The Low Carbon Economy Ltd

Climate change battle is like WWIII

The battle against climate change needs to be dealt with like a world war, according to the Environment Agency.

Barbara Young, the group''s chief executive, said that things were progressing "too slowly" at the moment to avert a huge crisis.

"This is World War Three - this is the biggest challenge to face the globe for many, many years," she said. "We need the sorts of concerted, fast, integrated and above all huge efforts that went into many actions in times of war.

"We''re dealing with this as if it is peacetime, but the time for peace on climate change is gone - we need to be seeing this as a crisis and emergency."

Meanwhile, environment secretary Hilary Benn said: "This is not just an environmental challenge. It''s also a security challenge, a migration challenge, a political challenge and an economic challenge as well."